Marko Rillo

Marko Rillo serves as the Head of MBA Curriculum at the Estonian Business School (EBS), an institution focused on business education. He holds a PhD in Management from the University of St.Gallen (Switzerland), specializing in Organizational Ambidexterity and Strategic Practices, alongside an MA in Economics from TalTech and a Bachelor’s degree from EBS. His academic career includes teaching courses such as Innovation Management, Strategic Management, and VUCA Innovation Practices. His research emphasizes workplace playfulness through LEGO Serious Play methodology and strategic leadership challenges in balancing innovation and operational effectiveness.

Education Background:

• PhD in Management, University of St.Gallen (2020)
• MA in Economics, TalTech
• Bachelor’s Degree, Estonian Business School
• Advanced studies in Strategy and Innovation at INSEAD, IESE, Aarhus University, and Lappeenranta University of Technology

Research Interests:

His work spans organizational strategy, innovation management, change management, and leadership development. Notably, he has pioneered LEGO Serious Play methodologies in facilitation and strategic planning. His studies on ambidexterity explore how organizations balance exploration (innovation) and exploitation (efficiency) under leadership.

Publications and Themes:

His articles focus on strategy process dynamics, balanced scorecard applications, and workshop facilitation techniques. Recent work highlights client-centric strategies and conscious incompetence frameworks in team development.

Recognition and Impact:

• Consulting experience with the European Commission, EBRD, and UN
• Developed training programs for businesses and institutions

Advising and Outreach:

Runs the social initiative Bright Knit l, enhancing student well-being through community engagement. No formal advisees listed, but contributes to curriculum design impacting students indirectly.

Labs/Teams:

Collaborates with EBS faculty on MBA program development and innovation initiatives.